<ARTICLE> OPUR1 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 548104 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 2706 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 66819 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 151077 <OTHER-ASSETS> 13917 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 782623 <COMMON> 72284 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 47205 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 100184 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 219673 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 27468 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 162469 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 3000 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 60000 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 310013 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 782623 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 324275 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 10481 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 280270 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 290751 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 33524 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 2142 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 35666 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13863 <NET-INCOME> 21803 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1491 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 20312 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 40419 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 11255 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 52025 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0